Paint container



May 16, 1961 M. H. VEAZEY 2,983,938

PAINT CONTAINER Fild March 10, 1959 INV EN TOR ATTORNEY United States Patent i PAINT CONTAINER Marion H. Veazey, 2050 Greenfield Road,

' Hagerstown, Md.

FiledMar. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 798,397 13 Claims. 01. 15-25106) This invention relates to a container for paint, and more particularly to a container for paint intended tobe applied by means of a roller applicator.

As well known, it has become quite a common practice in recent years, to utilize roll applicators for applying paint to the surfaces of Walls, ceilings, and the like. In many instances, this mode of application is of considerable advantage and produces better results than does painting by means of a brush. The use of roll applicators is of advantage not only to the trade craftsman, but also to the layman in the do it yourself category.

The conventional practice in applying paint by means of roll applicators is to utilize a tray having an inclined bottom and into which a limited quantity of the paint is poured. The applicator roll is dipped into the paint at the deeper end of the tray and then rolled back and forth on the bottom, so as to effect a relatively uniform distribution of the paint over the roll. The thus loaded-or replenished roll is then rolled across the surface to be' covered with the paint.

Although the roll applicator mode of applying paint has gone into extensive use, it nevertheless suffers certain drawbacks and difliculties. Chief among these is the fact that since the trays utilized for applying the paint to the roll applicator device itself mustnecessarily be relatively shallow, they hold only a relatively small amount of paint. This necessitates frequent refilling of the tray. Since even relatively small paint jobs involve covering more area than can be covered by the amount of paint in one loading ofthe tray, the frequent'replenishment of the supply of paint in the tray brings about unavoidable spilling and spattering of paint. Moreover, the frequent replenishment of the paint supply for the tray when the area to b'e painted requires use of a ladder, necessarily entails loss of time and annoying expenditure of energy for trips up and down the ladder, in order to pour paint from the supply can into the tray.

Numerous expedients have heretofore been suggested in order 'to overcome the above-mentioned objections. Thus, for example,aocording to patent of Mack, 2,698,- 450, there is provided a specially devised tray to be detachably mountable on a conventional paint bucket, the tray being fashioned with an opening through which the applicator may be immersed in the paint contained in the bucket. Thepatent to Farrow, 2,705,334, discloses a device to be mounted within a conventional paint bucket, and consisting of an inclined plate arranged toenable the roller, after being dipped into the paint, to be brought upwardly therealong for removal of excess paint from the roller.

Other devices for dealing with the problem are shown, forexample, in patents to Millholland, 2,424,323; Wabnitz, 2,669,736; Meinhardt, 2,778,050; and Freund, 2,798,239.

Theprincipal object of the present invention is to afiord a means whereby paint may be applied with a roll applicator, without necessitating the use of a separate tray for supplying the applicator, and without requiring the use Patented May .16, 1961 2 of specially mounted devices such as exemplified by the above-mentioned patents.

Another object of the invention is to provide means as above set forth, which may readily be adapted for use with paint cans as small as the one gallon size. This is of advantage particularly from the standpoint of the socalled do it yourself painter who ordinarily purchases his paint in cans of the one-gallon size. In standard practice, these are round cans having a removable top and a bail handle. For roll application thereof, he pours the paint, as frequently as required, into a tray for loading or replenishing the roller, as above set forth. When he has completed painting the desired area, prudence requires that after pouring any paint remaining in the tray back into the original can, the tray be cleaned to avoid accumulation of hardened films of paint on the surfaces of the tray. The necessity for cleaning the tray at the completion of each job is, needless to say, irksome and time-consuming.

It is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide means forenabling paint to be applied by roll applicator, and which will avoid this further objection to the use of the conventional forms of tray now utilized.

Broadly speaking, the foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention may be achieved by providing a paint container of generally elongated, rectangular form and dimensioned so as to enable an applicator roll to be inserted directly into the container through an opening formed in one of its walls, whereby to pick up an adequate supply of paint on the roll. According to a further, feature of the invention, the container is also. provided with means whereby the applicator roll, as it is being'withdrawn through the said opening and carrying the supply of paint it has taken up upon submersioninto the can, will be doctored in a manner to spread or distribute the "paint in a uniform film over the surface of the roll.

* Thus, according to the invention, the paint-container is itself constructed in a manner such that it performs the functionsserved by the trays heretofore conventionally used in connection with the paint applicator rolls, and to perform these functions in more satisfactory and convenient manner than has heretofore been possible with the conventional trays.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages-0f the inventioon will more readily appear from the detailed description below, and from the accompanying drawings in which: i

Fig. l is a view in perspective, partly broken away, illustrating a paint container according to one embodi ment of the invention, and showing the applicator device in use therewith;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross-section,

taken centrally through the fill opening of the container,

of Fig. 1, and showing the applicator roller partially inserted (or withdrawn) through 'the opening; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2. p v

In contrast to the round cans in which paint is conventionally furnished at present, the container according to the invention, and as shown in the drawings, is .of relatively elongated rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

The container, indicated generally by the letter C, and made preferably of metal, is cons-tmctedfor the purposes hereof so that two of its four relatively elongated sidewalls constitute its top and bottom walls when positioned for use with the roll applicator. The bottom wall, indicated at 11, andthe top wall, indicated at 13, are integral and preferably narrower than the side walls 12. End walls 14, 16 are each seamed to one of the edges of the integral sheet forming the walls 11, 12 and 13.

The longitudinal dimension of the walls 11, 12 and 13 is, at any rate, greater than the overall length of the conventional applicator rolls with which the container is to be used. The conventional applicator rolls have an overall length generally not exceeding about seven and one-half inches. Accordingly, the longitudinal dimension of the walls 11, 12 and 13 is preferably of the order of nine and one-quarter inches. The transverse dimension of the bottom wall 11 (and likewise of the top wall 13 and end walls 14, 16) is preferably of the order of approximately four inches. The other dimension of the end walls 14, 16 is preferably approximately six and one-half inches.

Thus dimensioned, the container will have a cubic capacity of approximately 240 cubic inches, or slightly in excess of one gallon. Indeed, the dimensions stated above are substantially those of the standard one-gallon metal can now in wide use in industry for the marketing of oils, and the like.

It is, therefore, an advantage of the invention that it may be practised by utilizing a standard form of can with a relatively simple modification of its structure, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

To that end, the top wall 13 is formed, preferably centrally thereof, with an opening 20 having a diameter, according to the invention, which is somewhat larger than the diameter of the conventional applicator rolls used for applying paint. Thus, the opening 20 will preferably be about two to two and one-half inches in diameter. The opening 20 is provided with an outwardly extending neck or flange 22, which may be screw-threaded or otherwise suitably formed to be securely engaged by a closure cap (not shown).

At one of the end walls 14, 16 a relatively flat carrying handle may be rigidly affixed as by crimping the same at its opposite ends to the seamed rim 26 of the end wall. If, as stated above, the can body is like the standard one gallon can currently in use in the paint and allied industries, the wall to which handle 25 is aflixed will also have a flanged opening 27 closable by a snap or friction type cap 28. In such case, either the opening 20 or opening 27 may serve as the fill opening for filling the can at the paint factory.

With the can as thus formed, there is utilized, in accordance with the invention, a roll applicator, indicated generally by letter R in the drawing. This applicator, with the exceptions hereinafter set forth, may be of the same general form and construction as in the present conventional roll applicators used for painting. That is to say, it may comprise an elongated hollow roll 30 made of spirally wound fibrous material and having a layer of absorbent material, such as napped fabric, chamois cloth or sponge, securely adhered to its outer surface, and closed at its opposite ends by flanged discs 31, 32, each formed with a central opening 33 therein to enable the roll to be journalled for free rotary movement on a portion 34 of a metal rod member inserted in the openings 33 and held in position as by a fastening nut 35 threaded on the end of the rod exteriorly of and into contact with one of the discs 31, 32.

For use with cans dimensioned as above indicated, the roll 30 may have an overall length of approximately six and one-half to seven and one-half inches, and an outside diameter of approximately one and one-half to two inches.

The portion of the rod member which extends beyond the end of the roll opposite the fastening 35 is formed in a manner such as will enable the roll to be inserted endwise into the can opening 20' and to be swung downwardly, after it has cleared the periphery of the opening, to a position in which its axis extends in a direction substantially parallel to the lengthwise dimension of the walls 11, 13. Fig. 1 of the drawing shows the position which the roll may occupy at its limit of movement, i.e., resting on the bottom wall 11. As will readily be under- 4 stood, however, after the trailing end of the roll has cleared the periphery of opening 20, it may be immersed as fully as desired and moved to various angular positions within the can.

After thus immersing the roll to the desired extent in the paint contained in the can, it may readily be withdrawn endwise through opening 20 by swinging it to a position in which its axis lies substantially at the axis of the opening, i.e., the same relative position it occupies for inserting it through the opening.

In order to enable manipulation of the roll for inserting it into and withdrawing it from the can as above set forth, the rod is bent to provide a relatively short portion 36 adjacent the end 32 of the roll and extending at an angle of substantially ninety degrees to the portion 34. The portion 36 should be of a length somewhat greater than the radius of the roll. Thus, for a roll having an outside diameter of 1% inches, portion 36 may conveniently be approximately 1% inches in length. At the end of portion 36 remote from its juncture with portion 34, the rod is return bent at 37 to provide a relatively long portion 38 extending at an acute angle of approximately sixty degrees with respect to the portion 34, and lying preferably in a common plane with portion 34 as well as portion 36. The portion 38 desirably is of a length, measured from return bend 37 to its remote end 39, such that the said remote end 39 will be located at or a short distance below the outer rim of the neck 22 of the can opening 20 when the roll occupies a position at the bottom of the can, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1. Thus, for the one gallon can of the above-stated dimensions, portion 38 may conveniently be six to eight inches in length. At the end 39 of portion 38, the rod is bent outwardly to provide a portion 40 thereof extending preferably at an angle of approximately ninety degrees with respect to the portion 34, i.e., approximately with respect to portion 38 and substantially parallel to portion 36. A suitable hand grasp 41 may be fitted to the extreme outer end of portion 40 of the rod.

With the applicator device constructed as above described, the roll portion thereof may be inserted into the can of paint through the opening 20 and manipulated so that it may be submerged in the paint, as explained above. When the roll has cleared the opening it may be swung to various angular positions for picking up an adequate supply of paint irrespective of the quantity of paint remaining in the can. Thus, when the roll is brought to the limit of its downward movement within the can, as depicted in Fig. l, and the quantity of paint remaining in the can is such that the level of the paint is practically at the bottom, the roll may be swished around and rolled along that surface and thereby caused to pick up practically the last traces of paint remaining on the bottom and along the sides of the can. It will be seen, therefore, that by my invention there is avoided practically all the waste of paint that occurs under the conditions of present practice, as above explained, by reason of the necessity for transferring the paint, from the cans in which it is furnished by the paint industry, to the trays used for supplying an applicator roll with an adequate amount of the paint.

In order that the quantity of paint picked up by the roll upon each submersion thereof be evenly distributed thereover as a smooth film for application to the surface being painted, means are also provided, in accordance with the invention, for doctoring the roll as it is being withdrawn from the canthrough the opening 20.

For this purpose, in the embodiment illustrated, there is provided an adapter device 50 and doctoring disc 51. The adapter 50 may be made of metal or relatively rigid plastic material, and takes the form of a circular collar having its lower end 52 threaded or otherwise suitably formed as is the closure for opening 20, for removable engagement with the correspondingly formed neck 22 of the can. The upper end 53 of the adaptor is flared outwardly to serve in the manner of a funnel, for catching surplus paint that may drip or splatter from the roll during its withdrawal fromthe can. At the lower end of the flared portion 53, the collar is formed at its interior with a narrow annular ring or projection 54.

The doctoring disc 51 is preferably made of a suitable semi-rigid plastic material, and takes the form of a flat annular disc, dimensioned so that it will just fit and rest upon the top edge of the neck 22 and be held in place by the ring 54. At its inner edge, the disc 51 is formed with spaced, blunted teeth or other suitable form of serrations 55. The opening along which the serrations are formed is dimensioned in relation to the outside diameter of roll 30 so that the outer edges of the serrations 55 will be in doctoring contact with the peripheral surface of the roll as the latter is moved into and out of the can. When the disc 51 has been properly seated on the top edge of neck 22, and the adaptor 50 then properly engaged with the neck 22 the interior ring 54 of the adaptor firmly holds the disc in place, so that upward or downward movement of the roll 30 through opening 20 will cause the serrations 55 to yield somewhat and thus doctor excess paint off the roll while distributing the remainder uniformly on its surface. Excess paint thus doctored from the roll, instead of spilling over the can, will be received by the funnel portion 53 and flow back directly into the can through the spaces between the serrations 55.

What I claim is:

1. A paint container having four substantially rectangular, relatively elongated side walls, a pair of end walls, each seamed to one of the edges of said side walls, a carrying handle aflixed to one of said end walls, one of said side walls being formed with an opening disposed substantially centrally thereof for readily removable insertion of a relatively elongated roll therethrough into a position with its longitudinal axis extending lengthwise of said side walls for surface contact of its periphery with the side wall opposite said opening.

2. A paint container having four substantially rectangular, relatively elongated side walls, one pair of said side walls being narrower than the other pair of said side walls, a pair of end walls, each seamed to one of the edges of said side walls, a carrying handle affixed to one of said end walls, one of said first-named pair of side walls being formed with an opening disposed substantially centrally thereof for readily removable insertion of a relatively elongated roll therethrough into a position with its longitudinal axis extending lengthwise of said side walls for surface contact of its periphery with the other of said first-named pair of side walls.

3. A container as defined in claim 2, dimensioned to contain one gallon.

4. A container as defined in claim 1, in combination with means comprising an annular disc member detachably engageable with said opening and formed for co-action with the periphery of said roll, during its withdrawal 6 through said opening, to doctor the film of paint picked up by the roll upon its submersion into the paint in the container.

5. A container as defined in claim 4, wherein said detachable means includes a funnel member for catching and returning, through said opening, any drippings from said roll.

6. A container as defined in claim 4, wherein said annular disc is seated on the upper edge of said flanged opening and is formed with serrations along its inner edge.

7. A container as defined in claim 5, wherein said funnel member is formed with an interior portion serving to hold said annular disc member firmly in place on said upper edge of said flanged opening.

8. A container as defined in claim 2, in combination with means comprising an annular disc member detachably engageable with said opening and formed for coaction with the periphery of said roll, during its withdrawal through said opening, to doctor the film of paint picked up by the roll upon its submersion into the paint in the container.

9. A container as defined in claim 8, wherein said detachable means includes a funnel member for catching and returning, through said opening, any drippings from said roll.

10. A container as defined in claim 8, wherein said annular disc is seated on the upper edge of said flanged opening and is formed with serrations along its inner edge.

11. A container as defined in claim 9, wherein said funnel member is formed with an interior portion serving to hold said annular disc member firmly in place on said upper edge of said flanged opening.

12. A container as defined in claim 1, and having a fill opening formed in one of said end walls.

13. A container as defined in claim 2, and having a fill opening formed in the end wall thereof to which said carrying handle is affixed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 565,328 Buhler Aug. 4, 1896 599,461 Thomas Feb. 22, 1898 630,055 Hopkins Aug. 1, 1899 669,159 Davids Mar. 5, 1901 1,254,714 McCombs Jan. 29, 1918 1,735,885 Towle Nov. 19, 1929 2,124,021 Akers July 19, 1938 2,411,842 Adams Dec. 3, 1946 2,436,291 Daniel Feb. 17, 1948 2,627,619 Gagen Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 793,180 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1958 1,117,398 France Feb. 20, 1956 

